After that night, I did not know how I was able to spend my days after.
The only thing that pushes to keep my act together is my son, Little Han. For his sake, I had to get back at my feet and accompany him while Eli is yet to awaken.
I hugged my child and comforted him from crying.
We looked at the balcony where a faint light and sound of celebration could be heard.
After so ti, Little Han managed to sleep. I carefully tuck him beside his mother in hopes that he would sleep more peacefully.
These days, Little Han also lost weight because he could not have proper sleep due to the anxiety from Eli's condition.
I looked at my son and love, with my thoughts wandering in a daze.
Subconsciously, I went out on the balcony and stared at the peaceful evening skies.
It was now filled with twinkling stars, not the gloomy purple skies that would be sward by demonoids and behemoths in all directions.
This was the gift of our sacrifice. Not only by and Eli but by everyone who lost their lives in the process of the bloody war.
"You never told you and future sister-in-law already had a son…" Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind .
Startled, I turned around and saw my elder brothers Antoine and Kazimir.
"First Brother… Second Brother…" I greeted them while awkwardly eting their knowing eyes.
"Tsk… you've gone astray, didn't you? No matter how much of a jerk we were back then, we never thought that you would be even more bold and decisive when it cos to these matters…"
Second Brother Antoine had a teasing smile on his face as he handed out a glass of wine while First Brother Kazimir raised a bottle of wine they probably sneaked out of the banquet.
"To think that you would use the pregnancy trick to tie down a woman… Youngest, your ways are beyond my imagination." First Brother Kazimir also teased.
"It's not what you think…" I scratched my head, clearly unprepared for their sudden teasing.
The two looked at as they smiled helplessly.
"Drink…" Second Brother patted my shoulder and pointed at the wine in my hand.
First Brother, on the other hand, sat on the chairs left on the balcony as Second Brother dragged in.
"We heard what happened from our father… please do not bla him for saying… We relentlessly pestered him to reveal what happened."
"En…" I humd as I took a light sip of the wine.
It does not matter if they knew… In fact, it would be more convenient for if they know of these things as it makes things less complicated when Eli wakes up.
"We are here for you… Don't just take these burdens alone."
"At least let out the heavy feelings you are bottling up inside… Or if you had any struggles being a father to your son."
"We are not the best fathers to our children, but we can at least hear you out."
One after the other, the brothers whom I never thought would treat like this in my lifeti, had given words that mysteriously eased my emotions.
"Besides, the mont our future sister-in-law awakens, we can just make her fall in love with you once more." First Brother suggested seriously.
"Yes! Besides, who would reject our cute nephew as their child? Look at him, he was already snatching the hearts of the ladies around the dragon village, how could he not capture back her mother's heart?" Second Brother also chid in.
"As for those mories, don't you have a lifeti to fill it all with good monts? You just have to work harder than before, don't you think?"
I listened to my two brothers as we finished the strong wine on the balcony.
While their words sounded like it was simple, I could clearly see from their eyes that they were worried about our family.
My heart felt a tingling sensation at that mont, it was as if my burdens lightened to a significant extent.
Before they returned to their quarters, I looked at them and said sincerely, "First Brother… Second Brother… Thank you very much."
In response, I saw their helpless smiles and on each side, their hands gently patted my shoulders.
No words were needed, their intentions reached my heart warmly.
I stayed for a little while, watching their shadowy figures blend into the darkness of the night.
Afterward, I went back to our room, my eyes laying gently on the mother and son tandem sleeping peacefully.
"Ummm~~" Little Han suddenly scrunched his nose as if slling sothing unpleasant.
I sobered up a little and realized that the strong scent of wine has covered my body entirely. So I smiled and retreated to the bathroom to freshen up and remove the drunken sll in .
By the ti I went out of the bathroom, I saw from the balcony that the banquet had died down and that the night was finally over.
I looked at the two figures peacefully sleeping once more and a deep sense of longing washed over .
I knew very well that it was not advisable to squeeze myself into soone's sick bed, but my entire being had been longing for the three of us to sleep together as a family like this ever since the war started.
Ever since the two of us decided to face adversities to give Little Han a more peaceful growing environnt, Eli and I worked hard toward our goal.
We deliberately chose to sacrifice the ti we should be spending with each other as a couple and as a parent to our child.
And yet, after all, things were overco… why am I the only one waiting for our family to get back to where it used to be?
I desperately wished that I would one day wake up and realize that everything is good and well.
That Eli would be back and we would be finally together as one family.
"Just tonight… let pretend that we are still a normal family," I mumbled the deepest desire I had at the mont.
I bent over and gave Little Han and Eli a gentle kiss on their forehead, caressing them gently as I visualized that this was just a typical night for us.
It's just a little bit of pretending so that I could just feel like we are finally together.
Then I carefully scooted on the end of the bed and laid down as gently as I could to not disturb the two.
I looked at Eli's peaceful sleeping face, it was like she did not have anything going on at all.
I held her hand... held it tightly, and brought it to my chest as I closed my eyes to sleep.
The night went by so quickly as the warmth of the morning light woke up.
I slowly sat up and realized that for the first ti since the end of the war, I was able to sleep so peacefully.
Perhaps it was because of the wine I took with my brothers or the little pretentious trick I made last night.
Beside , my two angels were still in their peaceful slumber.
Knowing that Little Han might soon be awake, I slowly got out of bed and went out of the room to prepare for the morning.
Today, I might try for Little Han to interact more with his playmates in the dragon village. It is not good for him to continue sticking at Eli's side until she finally wakes up.
I am sure Eli would also agree that the situation must not affect his growth and developnt.
From his clothes to the baby powder, which both my son and I are particularly fond of.
From his breakfast to the snacks he would soon take during his playti.
I prepared everything so that Little Han would be ready to face the day brightly. I smiled on my way back to Eli's room when suddenly, a loud scream reached my ears.
"Aaaaaahhhhh!!!"
"Wahhh!"
I was still in the corridor on my way back to Eli's room when I heard a commotion.
My heart skipped a beat as I ran swiftly to open the door, not knowing the kind of ntal preparation I had to do.
That was because the situation I saw inside was like a harsh slap on my reality that would surely haunt for the days to co.
There, I saw Eli's frightened figure.
She was wide awake as I always wished.
I could finally see her obsidian midnight eyes, one that I always adored.
Yet…
Her face was full of terror and fear as she crouched on the corner of the large bed, embracing her body protectively while she shivered in anxiousness.
"Mommi?!"
On the other hand, I saw Little Han's confused and terrified state looking at Eli, her dear mother, who was acting like she didn't know him at all.
Little Han stretched out his hand, in hopes to get his mother's attention, which prompted to drop all the things in my hand and dash to his side protectively.
Slap!
"AAAAAAahh!!"
Just as I expected, as soon as Little Han stretched out his hand and approached her, Eli went into a hysteria, swatting away her hands blindly, and screaming in a shrill terrified voice.
Fortunately, I ca to Little Han on ti protecting him from getting hurt by Eli's actions.
But I failed on one thing.
I failed to protect my son's heart, which was now broken into pieces as he stared in disbelief at the unfamiliar mother in his sight.
"M-mommi???"
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